Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-23

CANAL.
The large attendance at the meeting OF persons
interested In the preservation OF the Chesapeak
and Ohio Canal, held ut Cumberland, yesterday,
showed how Important the matter was held to be-
The large council chamber was not largo enough
to hold them. Che president Of the canal union,
Mr.. Patterson, called the meeting TO order, and
nounced the following orlcers: President, Repre-
sentative L 3. McComas; first cs-president,
James Findlay, OF Wiliamsport; second, Hon.
VIM Walsh; secretaries, Alexander Flurer, John
7. Edwards and w. F. Cowden-
STATE AID FIRST; THEN AN APPEAL TO CONGRESS.
Before the resolutions were offered Mr.. McComas
made short speech, urging the Importance Of
preserving this valuable waterway. He said thai
the days OF canals were not yet over. "The fear
that the railroads are reaching out for the canal
hold fast to that which had been good. To make
success OF the canal 1t should be put In the
hands OF non-partisan canal commission. The
canal had been in politics long enough. political
administration had been hurtful enough. There
was no virtue In It. The only administration that
VIII De OF any use Is one o. business IS, men men,, &C,
upon business basis The state" he said, "cOud
take up by purchase the repair bonds and put
them In the sink1ng-fund. This would AFFORD time,
and in the course OF two legislatures plan could
be adopted TO aid this important work. Congress
has thus far confined its aid TO rivers and harbors,
and has thus far excluded canals, unluckfly for
our movement. 1t my belief that you should
secure by legislation and constitutional amend
men state ai and then go 70 Congress eSd
gress co-operated at the birth OF the canal, and
can then ask the cooperation OF Congress- After
for national aid to the Canal. cannot too mucn
insist on this order OF procedure"
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Resolutions were offered with preamble reciting
for the preservation of the canal that it
nils prominent place In the development Of the
bia; that it furnishes means OF cheap transport
ation important to commerce and OF value to agrf-
culture that the facilities OF transportation which
this canal furnishes between the city OF CumDer-
land, Nd, and the District OF Columbia, and all
other points along the Potomac River, are indis-
pensa6le TO the highest Development Of the west.
OF Columbia and the portions OF the states OF Viz
ginia and West Virginia that border upon the
in the development Of the agricultural mining,
manufacturing, and mercantile interests Of
tae states Of M Maryland virginia. West
in their Interstate commercial relations;
that debt OF 5000 falling due January, 1885,
threatens the foreclosure OF liens and the sale Of
the canal, thereby destroying It's usefulness and
greatly tnJurtng, II not permanently destroying,
the industrial development OF the country through
bia, its eastern terminus that the National Gov
ernment, directly interested IN the maintenance Of
the said canal, inasmuch as It is a stakeholder In
the same to the extent OF s., 100000, and also
through its governmental supervision OF tine city
OF Georgetown, In the District OF Columbia, which
possesses valuable water rights that can be made
to yield many thousands OF dollars in annual rev.
enue to said canal; also valuable real estate, now
all under lease which al present yields fair rev.
enue, and could be utilized to far greater extent
by vigorous management; beside the great aid de-
rived Dy the General Government from Its control
and utilization OF said important waterway during
the war between the states by which It was en-
abled TO transport vast military supplies TO its
armies stationed along the Upper Potomac, and to
receive thousands of tons OF coal from the mines
nf (tran tn ,lyr
powerful naval armament.
The resolutions are as follows: 81 That In pro-
the true policy Of the national General Govern
ment is 10 foster, protect and improve, as far as
practicable, all artificial waterways that are of
sufficient Importance and extent to partake OF in.
terstate character 9 That the highest consider
alton or public policy, as well as a reasonable
sollcitude in the interests OF interstate commerce
and industry, and the public welfare OF the states
OF Maryland Virginia, West Virginia and the Dis
trtct OF Columbia all imperattvely demand that
movement looking to tue obtaining OF state and
national aid in maintaining the present and
future commercial status OF the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal be instituted and vigorously prosecuted
until crowned with success 8 That the chairman
OF this meeting be and he Is hereby empowered 10
appoint two committees, OF twenty men each-one
To attend TO the present session OF Congress and
invoke national aid for said canal, and the other
to proceed TO Annapolis and attend the coming
session OF the legislature and urge upon 1t the In
peratiye necessity OF extending such state aid TO
the executive committee OF the Canal Union Of
Maryland Is hereby authorized to act in conjunc-
ton with the aDOve-named committees, and our
Representatives in the Congress OF the United
States and In the legislature are respectfully re-
quested 10 use their personal and Official influence
In behalf OF the said cause"
The resolutions were adopted.
Mr.. wALsH'S ADDRESS.
Hon. VIM. Walsh then addressed the meeting.
He said that what the state can do Is to make ap-
preparations for seven or eight years Of OOO the
interest on the bonds TO be paid to the canal II the
canal require It, 81 believe the canal will not re.
Qure 1t, but this additional appropriation should
be made and placed upon the Stalui Is, 10 inspire
confidence. 80 far as know, no railroad wants the
canal think 1t proper to make this statement.
The canal should be maintained as a canal and for
no other purpose and until the experiment OF run
ming q canal and railroad side by side have been
fully tested will not change my opinion" Mr.
Spates approved OF Mr.. Baughmans Idea OF pull
ing the canal out of difficulty, and considered it
the only means feasible. He favored the appoint
ment OF committee to go to Annapolis In Janu-
airy TO get the bill passed for the relief OF the canal
after which he wanted the details regarding the
Indebtedness OF the canal and how IL was used.
The chair appointed MesSrs Walsh, McKaig, and
Patterson TO appoint, at the suggestion OF citizens
Of Allegany, Washington, Frederick, Montgomery,
and Garrett counties. a committee OF ten from each
county, 10 go before the Maryland Legislature, and,
also, committee Of ten from each county 10 70 10
the Congress OF the United States an ask assist
ance. The names or the committee are to be sent
TO the secretary OF the Canal Union, Mr.. W. F.
Cowden, as soon as possible. After remarks by Mr..
Cusnwa, OF Washington County, and Senator Nc
Kaig, OF Allegany County, the body adjourned, to
meet at the call OF the president Of the union.
Canada I'm U,easlImv Ser5mus